Round-Up - The ICAP Digest - January

Every month, the International Center for Alcohol Policies looks at responsible drinking measures around the world

Once a month, the International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP), which covers alcohol policies worldwide, will look at what's going on in-market to promote a responsible role for alcohol in society.

Tourists. Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly has voted to increase duties on alcohol. The measure was backed by the Islamist Ennahda party as part of an effort to raise government revenues, but criticised as un-Islamic by opponents who favour banning the sale and consumption of alcohol outright. The Tunisian economy is heavily dependent on foreign tourism.

Levied. Hong Kong Government’s Environmental Protection Department is considering introducing a HKD1 (US$0.13) levy on all bottles of beverage alcohol to contribute to the cost of a new glass waste recycling programme. Hong Kong Food, Drink & Grocery Association chairman Michael Glover said that the association has been in talks with officials over the proposal for over two years. Glover also said that any levy should be split fairly among all producers rather than singling out the alcohol sector, and that the policy would not encourage glass recycling among consumers.

Guyana’s National Assembly is considering legislation that would amend current environmental taxation laws to levy a GYD5 (US$0.03) tax on each unit of non-returnable containers for domestically-produced or imported non-alcohol or alcohol beverages. Violations of the proposed tax levy would incur penalties of a GYD5,000 fine, and importers found in violation would have to pay double the amount of tax payable.

The UK Government is reportedly making use of previously-seized bootlegged alcohol by processing it through an anaerobic digestion process and extracting methane to generate electricity. The programme is part of efforts to meet government environmental targets and achieve a 16% reduction in waste in 2011/2012.

Drafted. Czech Health Minister Leoš Heger is drafting legislation that would require restaurants to offer at least one non-alcoholic beverage that is priced cheaper than any available alcohol beverage. Heger’s draft legislation would reportedly also prohibit alcohol and tobacco product sales from vending machines and temporary retailers such as kiosks, and require larger retailers to display alcohol and tobacco separately from other goods. Heger said the legislation is part of wider efforts to reduce underage drinking and smoking.

Ignored. Many Russian retailers have reportedly ignored a prohibition on the sale of beer from kiosks that came into effect on 1 January. The traders have attempted to circumvent the ban by offering beer as a promotional item with non-alcohol beverage items, only selling to regular customers, or simply asking customers to lie about the beer’s origin if questioned.

Farmers in Switzerland, however, are finding certain kinds of home-grown production constrained. Swiss lawmakers are considering proposed legislation that would impose a new tax on distilled spirits produced by farmers. Under the proposal, any farmer who does not want to pay the tax will be allowed to destroy the alcohol produced or make it undrinkable, and will have the opportunity to legalise any undeclared alcohol without punishment, as well as the option to sell the spirit produced to the Swiss Alcohol Board at market prices.

And finally,

Karaoke. Under a draft decree proposed by Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, karaoke room patrons found consuming alcohol would be fined VND3m (US$145), a significant increase from current fine levels, which range between VND500,000 and VND1.5m. The measure would also increase fines for selling alcohol at karaoke venues, from between VND1m and VND3m to between VND3m and VND5m. If approved, the decree would go into effect on 1 July.

The International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) is a not-for-profit organisation supported by major international producers of beverage alcohol. Established in 1995, ICAP’s mission is to promote understanding of the role of alcohol in society and to help reduce harmful drinking worldwide. ICAP’s efforts to foster dialogue and partnerships in the alcohol policy field are shaped by its commitment to pragmatic and feasible solutions to reducing harm that can be tailored to local and cultural considerations and needs. ICAP has been recognised by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) as a non-governmental organisation in Special Consultative Status.